Our WWII Dad

Chris and Ken Cangilla
  • 5.0 (6)
  • History

Our WWII Dad follows brothers Chris and Ken Cangilla as they uncover the untold WWII story of their father, PFC Louis Cangilla — from Pittsburgh to the battlefields of Europe, including Aachen and the Battle of the Bulge. Through cinematic storytelling, battlefield visits, family memories, veteran interviews, and conversations with other WWII families, the series preserves the voices and sacrifices of the Greatest Generation before they are lost to history. Hosted by Emmy® winner Chris Cangilla and his brother Ken. Real WWII stories, family legacies, and discoveries that bring history to life.

  1. Aug 9

    Why Our WWII Fathers Never Told Their Stories | Howard Mansfield

    Why did so many World War II veterans come home and rarely talk about what they experienced? In Episode 16 of Our WWII Dad, author Howard Mansfield joins Chris and Ken Cangilla to explore that silence through the remarkable story of his father, Pincus Mansfield, a WWII veteran whose wartime experiences remained largely unknown to his family for decades. Howard grew up knowing his father had served during World War II—but, like so many sons and daughters of the Greatest Generation, he knew very little about what his father had actually experienced. Then he discovered something his father had left behind: a wartime diary. That discovery opened a window into a part of his father's life he had never fully known—and raised a question familiar to countless WWII families: Why didn't our fathers tell us these stories themselves? Howard shares what he learned about his father's service, the experiences that shaped him, and what it means to discover a parent's hidden history years later. For Chris and Ken, Howard's story also brings them back to their own father, Army PFC Louis Cangilla, and the questions that began Our WWII Dad. Their fathers served in different ways, but their children inherited something remarkably similar: fragments of stories, unanswered questions, and a desire to understand the young men their fathers once were. Our WWII Dad preserves World War II family stories through personal memories, military records, photographs, artifacts, interviews, and visits to historic locations across the United States and Europe. Because every family has a story worth preserving—and every story deserves to be remembered. What did your father, grandfather, mother, or grandmother tell you about World War II? Share your family's story in the comments. Subscribe to Our WWII Dad for more untold WWII stories, veteran stories, family history, and the personal side of World War II history. Chapters 00:00 Why Our WWII Fathers Never Told Their Stories 01:15 Meet Howard Mansfield 07:05 Who Was Howard's Father, Pincus Mansfield? 08:42 Howard's Father Goes to War 13:27 Discovering His Father's Wartime Diary 15:05 No Reunions With War Buddies 16:38 The “Commuter War” in the Skies Over Europe 19:13 How Did They Find the Courage to Go Back Up? 20:31 Rosetta Stone: Learning From the Diary and Prayer Card 24:24 Our Dad and the Battle of the Bulge 26:18 Why WWII Veterans Didn't Talk About the War 32:20 The War Story His Father Finally Told36:24 They Were Just Kids Fighting a War 38:22 Did Discovering the Past Change How Howard Saw His Dad? 44:17 Every Family Has a Story Worth Preserving 47:20 The WWII Mementos That Survived 48:36 Howard's Dad Becomes a Pilot 50:05 How the War Followed Our Dads Home 53:15 If You Could Ask Your Father One More Question... 55:04 Howard Mansfield's Sarah Joseph Hale Award & New Book: Invisible Monuments 1:02:27 What Our Fathers Left Behind 1:03:05 Preserving WWII History One Family at a Time ABOUT HOWARD MANSFIELD Howard Mansfield is an acclaimed author, journalist, and cultural historian whose work explores memory, history, place, and the stories we preserve—or leave untold. In this episode, we discuss his book I Will Tell No War Stories: What Our Fathers Left Unsaid About World War II. ABOUT OUR WWII DAD Our WWII Dad follows brothers Chris and Ken Cangilla as they uncover their father's World War II story and connect his experiences with the stories of other veterans and their families. Have a WWII family story? We'd love to hear from you. info@ourworldwar2dad.com YouTube: https://youtu.be/QmGGEqtceasFacebook: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OurWWIIDad Howard Mansfield: https://www.HowardMansfield.com #WorldWarII #WWIIHistory #OurWWIIDad

    Why Our WWII Fathers Never Told Their Stories | Howard Mansfield

  2. 12/05/2025

    He Flew Into Pearl Harbor… And Americans Opened Fire

    On December 7, 1941… he flew straight into Pearl Harbor—unaware the attack had already begun. As his SBD Dauntless approached Oahu from the USS Enterprise, American anti-aircraft crews—overwhelmed and under attack—mistook him for the enemy and opened fire. He survived. And months later, he would help change the course of World War II at the Battle of Midway. 👉 This is Episode 15 of the Our WWII Dad series. In this episode, Chris and Ken Cangilla are joined by Bill Kroeger, who shares the remarkable story of his father, Captain Edwin “Bud” Kroeger—a Pearl Harbor survivor, Navy dive bomber pilot, and one of the most decorated aviators of WWII. CHAPTERS 0:01 — Introduction 3:18 — Meeting Bill Kroeger 5:39 — Bud’s Early Life & Flight Training 10:14 — Joining the Navy 12:42 — USS Enterprise Assignment 🔥 13:14 — Pearl Harbor — Mistaken for Enemy & Fired Upon 25:35 — First “Payback” Mission — Wounded in Combat 30:35 — Battle of Midway — Attacking Akagi & Hiryu 43:16 — The Legendary SBD Dauntless 47:22 — Later WWII Service 49:51 — Post-War Career & Achievements 52:06 — Personal Artifacts & Keepsakes 1:02:22 — Why We Must Preserve These Stories 1:03:36 — Bud’s Final Chapter

    He Flew Into Pearl Harbor… And Americans Opened Fire

  3. 11/10/2025

    Before Their WWII Stories Are Gone… We Have to Remember

    Before their stories are gone… we have to remember. 👉 This is Episode 14 of the Our WWII Dad series — a special Veterans Day episode reflecting on the people, memories, and moments that continue to shape us. What started as one story—our dad’s—has become something much bigger. Through the voices of veterans, sons, daughters, and families carrying these legacies forward, this journey has revealed something powerful: These stories are disappearing. And preserving them matters now more than ever. From veterans who could have stayed home but chose to serve… to families uncovering long-forgotten histories… to the personal objects that still carry the weight of memory… this episode is about remembrance, legacy, and the quiet echoes World War II still leaves behind. CHAPTERS 0:01 — Introduction 2:15 — WWII Veteran Bob Marshall’s 100th Birthday 👉 3:41 — Those Who Could Have Stayed Home 4:00 — Wilbur Ball’s Story 7:30 — Woody Martin 9:51 — Walter Director 👉 12:37 — The Children Carrying Their Fathers’ Stories 13:41 — Erik Brun 16:58 — Olaf & David Minge 20:24 — Pat Pattison 23:36 — Mikke Pierson 👉 36:48 — The Family Who Answered the Call 38:19 — Our WWII Mom & Family Legacy 39:41 — Uncle Dick 42:54 — The Cangilla Brothers 49:56 — Our WWII Dad 🔥 1:03:00 — The Long Echo — Ordinary Objects, Extraordinary Meaning

    Before Their WWII Stories Are Gone… We Have to Remember

  4. 08/07/2025

    He Walked Where Easy Company Fought…What He Was Told Changed Everything

    What would it feel like to walk the exact path of Easy Company across Europe? 👉 This is Episode 13 of the Our WWII Dad series. In this episode, Chris and Ken Cangilla sit down with John Healy—an Ireland native who traveled across Europe with his son on the official Band of Brothers tour, following the footsteps of Easy Company from Normandy to Bastogne and beyond. But what started as a journey through World War II history became something much more personal. From Normandy to Bastogne… from the bridges of Holland to the silence of Dachau… John didn’t just visit these places. He experienced them. And what he was told on the final day of the tour changed how he sees the war—and life itself. CHAPTERS 0:01 — Introduction 1:36 — Meet John Healy 3:50 — How WWII History Found Him 8:02 — Band of Brothers Impact 9:27 — Beginning the Easy Company Tour 13:20 — Currahee & Camp Toccoa 16:49 — Normandy & D-Day Drop Zones 22:52 — Brécourt Manor Assault 25:15 — Carentan & Bloody Gulch 27:51 — Angoville-au-Plain Medics Church 32:16 — Replacements & Our Dad’s Story 34:12 — Operation Market Garden 38:30 — The Oversteek & Sunset March 44:38 — The Crossroads Battle 47:26 — Operation Pegasus Rescue Mission 48:16 — Bastogne & The Battle of the Bulge 51:46 — Bastogne Aid Station 53:29 — Dr. Minge & The Malmedy Connection 54:51 — Foy & The Breaking Point 1:00:40 — Noville Chapel 1:01:35 — The Last Patrol 1:04:51 — Dachau & The Reality of War 1:09:46 — Eagle’s Nest 1:15:14 — Nixon, VAT 69 & Easy Company Legends 🔥 1:16:38 — What He Was Told on the Final Day 1:19:57 — Final Reflections 1:21:36 — Covering Fire vs. Suppressing Fire 1:22:01 — WWII Hand Signals

    He Walked Where Easy Company Fought…What He Was Told Changed Everything

  5. 04/21/2025

    WWII Changed Him Forever… Then He Changed Hollywood

    Some soldiers come home from war carrying memories they can never escape. At just 19 years old, Frank Pierson was leading patrols behind enemy lines in New Guinea during World War II. One mission would change him forever. Years later, he would become one of Hollywood’s most influential storytellers:• Academy Award winner for Dog Day Afternoon• Writer of Cool Hand Luke• Director of A Star is Born 👉 This is Episode 12 of the Our WWII Dad series. In this episode, Chris and Ken Cangilla sit down with Mikke Pierson—the son of Frank Pierson—to uncover the deeply personal story behind the Hollywood legend. CHAPTERS 0:01 — Introduction0:44 — Meet Mikke Pierson 3:37 — Frank Pierson’s Early Life11:00 — A Family Story Becomes a Film13:01 — Enlisting in World War II14:50 — Infantryman in the Pacific 17:46 — WWII Memorabilia and Artifacts19:31 — Patrols Behind Enemy Lines 🔥 19:57 — The New Guinea Mission That Changed Frank Pierson Forever 29:19 — Returning Home After the War32:07 — Entering Hollywood 32:25 — Writing Cat Ballou32:39 — “Failure to Communicate” — Cool Hand Luke 36:09 — Winning the Oscar for Dog Day Afternoon38:19 — Directing A Star is Born 40:00 — How War Shaped His Pacifist Beliefs 42:43 — Leadership in Hollywood43:32 — HBO’s Conspiracy 47:03 — A Father-Son Relationship49:38 — Working on Mad Men 55:56 — The Connection to Our WWII Dads56:34 — A Surprising Family Revelation

    WWII Changed Him Forever… Then He Changed Hollywood

  6. 03/09/2025

    We Found Our Dad at the WWII Museum

    We didn’t expect to find him there. During a visit to the National WWII Museum, brothers Chris and Ken Cangilla discovered something deeply personal — a prayer card nearly identical to the one their father carried during World War II. But that was only the beginning. In this episode of Our WWII Dad, the museum journey becomes something far more emotional as artifact after artifact begins connecting back to their father’s wartime experience — from infantry gear and battlefield equipment to stories that mirrored the life he rarely spoke about after the war. Along the way, Chris and Ken uncover unexpected connections to other WWII families, personal letters, long-overlooked recognition, and even filmmakers like Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, who have also worked to preserve their fathers’ wartime legacy. What begins as a museum visit slowly becomes a powerful reminder that history is not just preserved in exhibits — it lives inside families, memories, and the objects carried home from war. Follow Our WWII Dad for cinematic WWII storytelling, battlefield journeys, family discoveries, and untold CHAPTERS 0:01 — Introduction 2:59 — Exploring the National WWII Museum4:15 — Landing Craft and Early WWII Exhibits5:42 — The C-47 Skytrain6:40 — The German 88mm Gun 8:01 — Departing Train Experience and Dog Tags10:59 — The WWII Homefront Exhibit14:58 — Rosie the Riveter 17:43 — Willys Jeep Production20:20 — Infantry Gear and Dad’s Jacket21:10 — The Foxhole Shovel Connection23:01 — The French Resistance Pin 24:16 — “Beyond All Boundaries” Experience26:42 — Rare WWII Artifacts 27:14 — The 99th Battalion and 474th Regiment30:20 — The Bronze Star Discussion32:51 — Should Dad Have Received a Bronze Star? 34:42 — Discovering Dad’s Sharpshooter Badge38:51 — Stories from the WWII Homefront 42:55 — The Road to Berlin Exhibit43:25 — Tom Hanks and Spielberg Connections 45:12 — Soldier Artifacts and Personal Items48:18 — The WWII Jeep 50:41 — Dad’s Uniform and Medals54:23 — Helmet Damage and the Reality of War 58:59 — Operation Greif1:01:09 — The Battle of the Bulge 1:08:51 — The Prayer Card Discovery 1:13:16 — Merkers Mine1:14:28 — The “Forrest Gump” Unit of WWII 1:17:29 — Jeeps and Dad’s Role During the War1:22:41 — WWII Transport Trucks 1:31:19 — Day Two at the Museum1:35:38 — Pacific Theater Exhibits 1:42:06 — The Oglesby Story1:45:27 — Ken’s Letters to His Brother 1:48:33 — Final Reflections

    We Found Our Dad at the WWII Museum

  7. 12/23/2024

    The Doctor Who Treated a Malmedy Massacre Survivor

    He survived one of the most infamous massacres of World War II. In this episode of Our WWII Dad, brothers Chris and Ken Cangilla continue the story of Dr. Raymond Minge of the 99th Infantry Battalion (Separate) — and the moment he treated a survivor of the Malmedy Massacre during the Battle of the Bulge. Joined by David Minge and Olaf Minge, this powerful multi-generational conversation follows the 99th Infantry Battalion through some of the darkest days of the war — from the streets of Würselen and Aachen to the frozen forests of Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge. At the center of the episode is Staff Sergeant Henry “Roy” Zack, a survivor of the Malmedy Massacre whose life intersected with Dr. Minge in a moment neither family would forget. The episode also features emotional “then and now” journeys across Europe, as the Minge family retraces the same battlefields decades later — uncovering the places where history, survival, and memory still remain. Through personal stories, battlefield history, and family discoveries, this episode explores the human side of one of World War II’s most tragic events. Follow Our WWII Dad for cinematic WWII storytelling, battlefield journeys, family history, and untold stories from the Greatest Generation. CHAPTERS 0:01 — Introduction0:28 — Recap of Episode 9 1:16 — Battle of the Bulge: 80 Years Later1:39 — The 99th in Würselen and Aachen2:09 — Touring WWII Battlefields with the Minge Family 4:12 — Then & Now: Soldiers and Tanks5:50 — Crucifix Hill in Aachen8:37 — Foxholes and the Siegfried Line9:37 — Then & Now: Streets of Würselen 11:21 — Bombing of St. Sebastian Church12:13 — Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery 13:27 — The 99th Enters the Battle of the Bulge14:33 — Christmas in Malmedy, 1944 18:07 — The Malmedy Massacre19:03 — Christmas Eve Bombing Tragedy 19:58 — Dr. Minge Treats a Malmedy Survivor 24:00 — Baugnez Massacre Site24:54 — Malmedy Today and the Memorial 29:11 — Liberation of Buchenwald31:24 — Merkers Mine Discovery 34:49 — The “Forrest Gump” Unit of WWII36:26 — Return to Norway 39:40 — Life After the War45:20 — Preserving Uniforms and Artifacts 46:24 — The 99th Infantry Battalion Foundation54:32 — Remembering the Battle of the Bulge

    The Doctor Who Treated a Malmedy Massacre Survivor

  8. 12/16/2024

    His Replacement Was Killed — So He Stayed

    He was supposed to leave the war. Dr. Raymond Minge, a medic with the 99th Infantry Battalion (Separate), had been scheduled for transfer to a larger medical facility during World War II. But when the doctor sent to replace him — Captain Gordon F. Fischer — was killed shortly after arriving, everything changed. In Part 1 of this special two-part episode of Our WWII Dad, brothers Chris and Ken Cangilla are joined by former U.S. Congressman David Minge and Olaf Minge, the son and grandson of Dr. Minge. Together, they share the remarkable story of a WWII medic whose path changed in an instant — and how that moment shaped the lives of countless soldiers he would later care for during the war. The episode follows Dr. Minge’s journey from medical training and Camp Hale to Europe and the growing realities of combat with the legendary 99th Infantry Battalion. The story also explores the extraordinary experience of Dr. Minge’s sister, Margaret Minge, who escaped Nazi Germany after witnessing Kristallnacht and helped smuggle Jewish valuables to safety before the war intensified. Through personal memories, family history, and wartime discoveries, this episode reveals how a single moment during WWII could alter the course of an entire life. Follow Our WWII Dad for cinematic WWII storytelling, battlefield journeys, family history, and untold stories from the Greatest Generation. CHAPTERS 0:01 — Introduction0:54 — 80th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge 1:45 — Dr. Raymond Minge and the 99th Infantry Battalion4:05 — Chris and Ken’s Research Journey5:31 — Meeting David and Olaf Minge 6:03 — The Minge Family Story8:06 — Dr. Minge’s Medical Training9:12 — Margaret Minge Escapes Nazi Germany 13:18 — Witnessing Kristallnacht15:40 — Camp Hale Training and Preparation for War21:19 — A Letter from England — December 1943 26:02 — Journey to Normandy27:47 — The 99th Arrives in France35:14 — Was Louis Cangilla in Maastricht? 36:32 — Canal Drive — September 194438:54 — Captain Gordon Fischer Is Killed41:14 — How One Death Changed Dr. Minge’s Fate 45:08 — Lifelong Bonds Within the 99th45:51 — Reunion Stories After the War47:16 — The Men Dr. Minge Never Forgot 50:13 — Preview of Part II: The Battle of the Bulge

    His Replacement Was Killed — So He Stayed
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About

Our WWII Dad follows brothers Chris and Ken Cangilla as they uncover the untold WWII story of their father, PFC Louis Cangilla — from Pittsburgh to the battlefields of Europe, including Aachen and the Battle of the Bulge. Through cinematic storytelling, battlefield visits, family memories, veteran interviews, and conversations with other WWII families, the series preserves the voices and sacrifices of the Greatest Generation before they are lost to history. Hosted by Emmy® winner Chris Cangilla and his brother Ken. Real WWII stories, family legacies, and discoveries that bring history to life.

Information

  • Creator
    Chris and Ken Cangilla
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Chris and Ken Cangilla
  • Show Website
    Our WWII Dad